Personal Narrative

A personal narrative is a true story about something that happened to you.
 

You should write about:

• One small moment, not your whole life

• Something you remember well

• A time that made you feel something (excited, worried, proud, embarrassed, happy, etc.)

Step 1: Pick a Focus

• A person – a family member, a friend, a teacher, or a pet

• A place – your home, school, park, or a vacation spot

• An activity or event – a hobby, a sport, a game, a birthday, or a holiday

• A feeling – proud, scared, excited, frustrated, or surprised
  
  

Step 2: Think of Small Moments

Now that you have a starting point, list all of the small moments you can think of connected to this person, place, occasion, or feeling. 

Step 3: Pick Your Best Moment

Look at your list of small moments. Which one makes you the most excited to write about?
 

Remember: your story doesn’t have to be about something huge. Sometimes the small, everyday moments are the most interesting to write about.

Planning your story before you write can help you organize your ideas. Think of your story as a rising and falling arc. Every personal narrative has five key parts:

1. Beginning – Introduce yourself and the situation. Tell who you are, where you are, and what is happening at the start.

2. Build-Up – Show how events start to develop. Add details that help your reader understand the story.

3. BIG Moment – Describe the most exciting or important part of your story. This is the climax—the moment your story centers on.

4. Resolution – Explain what happened after the BIG moment. How were the events resolved or changed?

5. Ending – Reflect on your experience. How did you feel, or what did you learn from it?

When you start your story, don't begin with “One day…” 

Here are four ways you might want to start your story that are more interesting:

1. Action Beginning – Jump right into what’s happening.
   Example: I gripped the handlebars as my bike flew down the hill.
   
   

2. Talking Beginning (Dialogue) – Start with someone speaking.
   Example: “Come on, you can do it!” my brother yelled.
   
   

3. Feeling or Thought Beginning – Share what you were thinking or feeling.
   Example: My stomach felt like it was full of jumping beans.
   
   

4. Sound Beginning – Use a noise to get the reader’s attention.
   Example: CRUNCH! The skateboard smacked the pavement.

When you write a story, you want your reader to feel like they’re there with you. Don’t just tell them how you felt — show it by describing:

• What you did (actions)

• What you thought (thoughts)

• What you sensed (sight, sound, touch, taste, smell)
  
  

This makes your story stronger and more exciting.

Telling vs. Showing

Telling: I was scared.
Showing: My hands shook, and my heart thumped like a drum inside my chest.

Telling: I was excited.
Showing: I bounced on my toes and couldn’t stop smiling.

Telling: I was cold.
Showing: A shiver ran down my back, and my teeth chattered as the icy wind bit my face.

Telling: I was happy.
Showing: I jumped up and down, laughing so hard my cheeks hurt.

Telling: I was tired.
Showing: My eyelids felt heavy, and I could barely keep my head up as I trudged to bed.

Tips for Showing:

• Think about how your body feels. (shaking, stomping, yawning)

• Think about what you see, hear, smell, or taste. (buzzing bees, crunchy leaves, hot chocolate smell)

• Think about what you’re thinking inside your head. (I hope this works… I can’t believe it!)
  
  

Showing helps your reader experience the story, instead of just hearing about it.

A great story helps the reader imagine exactly what it’s like to be there. 

That means describing:

• Sight – What did you see? Colors, shapes, people, animals, objects, or anything around you.

• Sound – What did you hear? Noises, voices, music, or even silence.

• Touch – What did you feel? Soft, rough, hot, cold, wet, sticky, smooth — anything you can feel with your skin.

• Smell – What did you smell? Flowers, food, smoke, fresh air, or even stinky smells.

• Taste – What did you taste? Sweet, sour, salty, spicy, or bitter. This one isn’t always needed, but it can make your story more interesting.
  
  

Example:
The warm popcorn smell floated through the air as people cheered around me. I felt the sticky butter on my fingers and saw the bright lights of the big screen flashing in front of me.

Sight:

• The sky turned bright pink and orange as the sun sank behind the mountains.

• A flock of birds swooped past, their feathers shining in the sunlight.
  
  

Sound:

• Splash! The water hit the dock as the boat rocked back and forth.

• The wind howled through the trees, rattling the windows.
  
  

Touch:

• The soft blanket felt warm and cozy against my skin.

• My hands were cold and numb as I held the icy snowball.
  
  

Smell:

• The fresh-baked cookies made the whole house smell sweet and buttery.

• The smoky campfire stung my nose as I sat around it.
  
  

Taste:

• The lemonade was so sour it made my tongue pucker!

• The chocolate cake melted in my mouth, rich and gooey.
  
  

Tips for Using Your Senses:

1. Think about the most important details in the scene. What would help your reader picture it?

2. Don’t just list the senses — show them in action! Instead of “It was loud,” try: The fireworks boomed and crackled so loudly my ears rang.

3. Try to use more than one sense in each part of your story. Combining sight, sound, smell, touch, or taste makes the story feel real.

Dialogue is when someone in your story talks. Writing dialogue can make your story more exciting and help your reader feel like they are really there.

Why Use Dialogue?

• Shows what people are thinking or feeling.

• Helps the reader understand how characters react.

• Makes your story more interesting and fun to read.
  
  

How to Write Dialogue

1. Put quotation marks around the words someone says.
   Example: “Hurry! We don’t have much time!” shouted Alex.

2. Start a new paragraph when a different person speaks.
   Example:
   “I think we can do it!” I said, gripping the ball tightly.
   “You better!” my coach called from the sidelines.

3. Add actions or feelings to show how someone is speaking.
   Example: “I can’t believe we won!” I cheered, pumping my fists and jumping up and down.
   
   

Ways to Use Dialogue in Your Story

• Show excitement:
  “We did it!” I yelled as the crowd cheered.

• Show fear or worry:
  “Are you sure we should go in?” whispered Mia, her eyes wide.

• Show a lesson or advice:
  “Remember to stay calm,” my mom said, smiling.

• Show surprise or shock:
  “No way! You actually did it?” my friend exclaimed.
  
  

Tips for Dialogue

• You should only use dialogue when it adds something to your story. Don’t include talking to fill space.

• Combine dialogue with showing actions or feelings to make it stronger.

• You can even start your story with dialogue to grab the reader’s attention.
  
  

Example of Dialogue in a Story
Instead of writing:
I was excited to play the game. My coach told me to focus.

Try writing:
“Stay focused!” my coach shouted. My hands were sweaty, and my heart was racing, but I gripped the ball and got ready to play.

The ending of your story is just as important as the beginning. Here are some ways to end your story:

1. Reflection – Show what you realized or learned.
   Example: I realized that even when things seem impossible, I’m braver than I thought.
   
   

2. Wish or Hope – Share a hope or wish for the future.
   Examples: I hope I always have the courage to try new things.
   
   

3. Full Circle – Bring your story back to the beginning so it feels complete.
   Example:

• Beginning: My stomach twisted like a knot when I stepped onto the stage.

• Ending: This time, my stomach felt calm, and I smiled as the audience cheered my name.
  
  

Tips for Writing a Strong Ending:

• Show how the experience changed you or how it made you feel.

• Give the reader a sense of closure—don’t just stop suddenly.

• Think about what you want your reader to remember or feel after reading your story.
  
  

A strong ending leaves your reader thinking about your story long after it’s finished. Make it memorable

The Winning Shot

“Pass it to me!” I yelled, running down the basketball court. The gym was loud with kids and parents cheering. My heart was beating so fast, I thought it might jump out of my chest. The score was tied, and there were only ten seconds left.

I caught the ball from my friend Marcus and started dribbling. I tried not to think about how nervous I was. I just wanted to make the shot.

I ran past one player, then another. “Come on, come on,” I whispered to myself. One of the other team’s players tried to steal the ball. It bounced off my foot and almost went out of bounds, but I grabbed it just in time.

Then I saw my chance. I faked left, and the defender went the other way. I jumped and threw the ball as hard as I could. The buzzer went off… SWISH! The ball went right through the hoop.

The gym went crazy. My teammates ran over and hugged me. “You did it!” Marcus shouted, punching my shoulder. The coach gave me a high five. “Way to stay calm and focus,” he said.

After the game, I sat on the bench, still trying to catch my breath. My knees were shaky, but I felt proud. I had been nervous, but I didn’t give up. I stayed focused, listened to my teammates, and believed I could do it.

That day, I learned something important: even when something feels scary, you can do it if you try your best. That shot wasn’t just about basketball—it was about not giving up. And I’ll never forget that feeling.

The Winning Shot

I ran down the basketball court. The score was tied, and there were only ten seconds left.

I caught the ball from my friend Marcus and started dribbling. I ran past one player, then another. One of the other team’s players tried to steal the ball. It bounced off my foot and almost went out of bounds, but I grabbed it just in time.

Then I saw my chance. I faked left, went the other way, jumped, and threw the ball as hard as I could. The buzzer went off, and the ball went through the hoop.

The gym went crazy. My teammates ran over and hugged me. The coach gave me a high five. I felt proud and excited.